Inpd

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/_pdf/b...111-defy.5.pdf

The 2015 models are no on sale for $500 in some places and the MSRP is just $640.

For that you get the bottom of the line but acceptable complete Claris drive train and STIs. Most other bikes sold through an LBS with STis and a proper (i.e. non-Tourney or MTB) drive train are above $800. If you want a carbon fork then Fuji's 3.0 Sportif (very similar bike) can sometimes be had for $600 at Performance or you can go the BikesDirect route and get a Dawes for $400. But the Giant's frame is a step up from these two.

nastystang

Is this a recommendation or a question? Not sure with your other threads going about steel frames and a 2nd bike.

Inpd

Both! About 2-3 times a week every week someone posts "Can you recommend a good entry level new road bike for me?" I think the Giant Defy 5 is as good as it gets for the around $500 price point. I think Giant is going to regret making that bike because it will satisfy most people's needs period with little chance they'll want to upgrade.

TrojanHorse

Ugh.

nastystang

Gotcha, and your right its a great bike for what it is and as far as upgrading goes this forum is full of people looking for the something better. The n+1 philosophy but that bike could meet the needs of alot of people.

trainsktg

I am very satisfied with my Defy 5, but I still got an upgrade bike.

Keith

rms13

OP, you start your day looking to upgrade to a race bike than a steel bike and now you want an entry level bike that is very similar in every way to the bike you bought from bikesdirect? Your starting to make me miss DreamRider85

mawashi

Just make up your mind.....

Lazyass

I give up. Just get something, dude. Draw straws or something.

PepeM

How do you know the Giant frame is a step up?

Inpd

This isn't for me. I'm still going the steel route.

I just noticed this bike can be now had for under $500 and thought I would point it out to the people who are in the market for an entry bike.

DaveWC

You're basing that recommendation on your experience with the bike right?

johnyguy

Ha ha reading the comments is entertaining!!

rms13

Are you implying that anyone of us can get that bike for under $500. Your making a lot of assumptions to base an entire thread on.

dtrain

You can get an ice cream sandwich at Walgreen's for a dollar.

Stucky

Looks like Giant is getting smart and trying to compete with Bikesdirect's cheaper offerings.

There's only a limited market for expensive road bikes. Smart move on Giant's part, offering bikes for the average person who just wants a doable road bike- something better than Walmart/Schwinn.....but still at a reasonable price which people who aren't cycling-obsessed will be willing to pay. Betcha that other manufacturers follow suit!

Thanks for sharing, OP. While I wouldn't buy that bike...I'm glad to see that it exists- and will no-doubt make road cycling more accessible to the average person.

Elvo

Those big giant toll house ones in the amarillo packaging start at $2.99

Inpd

Yeah. A friend has it and I've ridden it half a dozen times. Its very similar to a the other bikes I mentioned in the original message except the frame is different. Essentially you can buy the entire Claris Groupset for $170 and as @stuckey mentions manufacturers are getting smart and building bikes around them for around $500-600.

For an entry level road bike its a great buy since the groupset is pretty good.
@rms. Not sure you can buy it everywhere for that price but I've seen it in two LBS for $499 for the X-Large and Small sizes and $550 for the Large and Medium sizes.

rms13

I was going to ask if those prices were all on XS and XL. Guess not but close. You can certainly get great deals on previous year models but usually the lower the msrp the less of a deal you can get and if you ride a common/popular size such as M and M/L in Giant or 54/56 in other brands there is usually not much left at end of the year